Bundle binding and tying machine



Aug. 30, 1932.4 G, D, PARKER 1,875,260

BUNDLE BINDING AND TYING IACHI' Filed March 12. 1925 10 Sheets-Sheet l las FIE-1. /57

a ebrge Par/rf. M12

HTTORNE Y:

Aug. 30, 1932. Q D, PARKER 1,875,260

BUNDLE BINDING AND TYING MACHINE Filed Max-nh 12, 1925 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 /37 FISE- a W s 1 'mi /4 N U r f4 r l H 1| 1i 5;* H11 il w l l f6.1-- ,1| www 6 mi* .aus

.f5 se e5 es O faz lo.

7u 79 {v gf s4 faz f nml .,.;A,

0M @d @uw Avro/ewa' v5.

Aug. 30, 1932. G. D. PARKER 1,875,260

BUNDLE BINDING AND TYING MAGHINE Aug. 30, 1932. G. D. PARKER 1,875,250

BUNDLE BINDING AND TYING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1925 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 TTOENE YJ Aug. 30, 1932. s. n. PARKER BUNDLE BINDING AND TYING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1925 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIELE- Aug. 30, 1932. s. D. PARKER BUNDLE BINDING AND TYING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1925 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Aug. 30, 1932. G. n. PARKER BUNDLE BINDING AND TYING IACHINE Filed Maron 12, 1925 10 Sheets-Sheet /N VE N 70E 6ta/ye rker. @fr W Aug. 30, 1932. G. D. PARKER BUNDLE BINDING AND TYING IACHIHE 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed March 12. 1925 FIEJE- a a y W M We .Tw r fm, n

Aug. 30, 1932. G. D. PARKER BUNDLE BINDING AND TYING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1925 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 FIIEE. F1531. FIEE E1- F'Il'lE.

l/Vl/E/V TOE George Parke/r www,

` Arroz/vara Aug. 30, 1932. G, D, PARKER 1,875,260

BUNDLE BINDING AND TYING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1925 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 Maf Patented ugt 30, 1932 UNITED STATES .PATENT yori-fica GEORGE D. PARKER, F RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA; CLARA B. PARKER, EXECUTRIX OF SAID GEORGE D. PARKER, DECEASED, ASSIGNOB JB., 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA 0F ONE-HALF TO JAMES M. LEAVER,

BUNDLE BINDING AND TYING MACHINE appnauoa sued man 12, 192s. serial Traviesas.

The invention relates' to a bundle tying -machine of that class in which a wire is secured taut about a bundle which may con-V sist of a number of articles of like kind assembled together, a box, or any kind of a package or bundle of limited dimensions about which it is desired .to secure a binding wire. An object of the invention is to provide a wire tying machineinwhich the wire is tied tight around the bundle.

Another object of the invention is to p1 ovide, in a lwire tying machine, means for forming a vHat knot of the wire, which will lieflat a ainst one of the sides of the bundle.

A furt er object of the invention is to provide means for holding the end of the wire, so that the wire may be wound very tightly around the bundle, thus producing a tie which is bound to hold.

Another object of the invention is' to provide a bundle tying machine in which the wire which' is passed around and secured to the` bundle is taken directly from a coil of wire and is not severed from the coil until fter the wire has been tied around the bun- Another object of the invention is to provide a' tying means vwhich is arranged contiguous to one side of the bundle and whichV is halted in position to discharge the tie toward the conti ous side Aof the bundle, thereby not only acilitating the removal of the tie from the tying means but also avoiding the production of slack in the tying wire.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide means for clampin or holding the bundle in afixed location uring the time that the tensioned wire is passed around and tied around the bundle, so.. as to facilitate the passing and tying operations.

A further object` of the invention is to provide ay bundling machine in which the tying Wire is bent around a gripper, thereby greatly increasingy the holding e'ect of the i grlpper and permitting the wire being passed around the bundle to be held under a high tension.

the tying wire and to generally improve the characteristics of the tied bundle.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following description, Where I shall outline in full that form of my invention which I have selected for illustration in the `drawings accompanying and forming part of the present, specification. In said drawings I have shown one form of bundle tying machine embodying my invention, but itis to be understood that I do not limit myself to such form, since the invention, as set forth in the claims, may be embodied in a plurality of forms'. A

Referring to said drawings Figure 1 is a, front elevation of a bundle binding and tying machine embodying my invention. y

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the machine, a portion of the enclosing housing being removed to disclose the details of construction.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the other end of the machine, a portion of the enclosing housing being removed.

Figure 4 is a vertical section of the machine taken on the line 4 4 Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an elevation of the master driving ,gear forming part of the machine, the view being taken from the rear, so that the Vmaster gear rotates in a direction opposite Figure 9 is an elevation of the means employed for pushing the package away from the tying means thereby cooperating to facilitate removal of the tied wire from the tying means.

Figure 10 is a horizontal section through the means for operating the grippers and the cutting mechanism.

Figure 11 is an elevation in detail of a portion of the cutter.

Figure 12 is a horizontal section taken through the wire twisting means and its cooperating structure.

Figure 13 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 13-13 Figure 12.

Figure 14 is an elevation of the tie or twist.

Figure 15 is an elevation of the wire tensioning means.

Figure 1G is a vertical section taken on the line 16-16 Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a vertical section taken through a portion of the presser-foot, showing the means for attaching the foot to the presser-rod.

Figure 18 is a front elevation of the gripper and cutter operating means, the coverplate of the housing being removed to disclose thc structure.

Figure 19 is a side elevation of the gripper and cutter operating means, the coverplate being removed to disclose the structure.

Figure 20 is a horizontal section through the ripper and cutter actuating means, taken on the line 20-20, Figure 19.

Figure 21 is an elevation of a gripper head,

Figures 22 and 24 being plan views of the gripper head, and Figures 23 and 25 being side elevations of the gripper head.

Figure 26 is a horizontal section through the frame and the gripper actuator housing, showing the twisting device.

Figure 27 is an elevation of the frame taken on the line 27-27 of Figure 26.

Figure 28 is an elevation of the side of the gripper actuator mechanism housing taken on the line 28--28 Figure 26.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application, Serial No. 723,769, filed July 2, 1924, many features of the earlier filed case being common to those disclosed in this application. For example, the twister constrained with res ect to the frame and in which portions of e wire are overlapped; the means for mounting the twister, so that its slot faces away from the bundle to receive the Wire and discharges the knot toward the bundle; and the winding ring are all disclosed in the prior application.

The machine of my invention is constructed to draw wire from a coil, place the wire under tension and pass it around a bundle or box, and tie the wire around the bundle or box. The machine is provided with a knotter or wire twistin device, into which overlapping portions o the wire are introduced by the means which passes the wire around the bundle. The wire is in tension and is gripped at opposite sides of the t ing or twisting device and the twisting eviee is then o erated to tie the wire encircling the bund e. Means are provided for then cutting the tied wire from the length of wire taken from the coil and for ejecting or effecting removal of the tie from the twisting device. The twisting device is so arranged that the wire is introduced thereinto, as the wire is passed around the bundle and, at the end of its twisting operation, the twisting device is so ositioned that its exit slot faces the side o the bundle, so that the tie may readily be ejected from the twisting device. The means for passing the wire around the bundle is movable in opposite directions, that is, in one direction of movement it passes the wire around the bundle in one direction and is then movable in an opposite direction.

This reversal of movement of the means for passing the wire around the bundle not only causes the end of the wire to be bent around the gripper, thus greatly increasing the holding effect of the gripper and permitting the wire to be held under high tension but also enables the formation of at knots, from overlapping portions of the wire, which can be tied always in the same fixed position relative to the machine. Furthermore, in case it is desired to obviate the necessity of returning the winding or wire passing means toA starting position after each winding of the wire, the reversal of movement of such means, upon formation of the knot, can be utilized to pass the wire successively in oposite directions, which latter arrangement is preferred b me due to the saving in operating time o tained thereby. The machine also embodies means for timing the operation of the wire-feed reversing means and for timing the operation of the twisting means, the cutters and the grippers. Means are also provided for maintaining the wire taut, by taking up any slack therein which is caused by the reversal. of the direction of operation of the wire passing means. The machine also embodies other features of construction and operation which will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

The machine comprises a frame 31 which is suitably constructed to support the various instrumentalities entering into the construction of the machine. The frame is provided with a table 32 on which the bundles to be tied are placed and the table is preferably provided with a series of rollers 33 to facilitate the movement of the bundles into and out of the machine. The frame extends up- Ward above the table 32 and is provided with an opening extending therethrough, through which the bundle 34 is passed. The frame is also provided, above the table 32, with a back wall 35 against which the bundle to be tied wire are inV overlapping is placed and -which serves as a machine, wire is drawn from a coil, is placed under tension and is passed completely around'the bundle, Vso that portions of the arrangement, and these overlapping portions are twisted tgether to tie the'wire around the bundle.

' vThe means for passing the wire around the bundle com rises a ring 36, rotatably mounted in the rame and surrounding the table 32, the back wall and the pening in 'the frame through which the bun 1e is inserted. The ring 36 is mounted on a plurality of spaced rollers 37, 'ournalled on studs Vsecured to the frame, so that the ring may be read-v ily rotated about its axis. Mounted on the ring are a plurality of groovedrollers y38 over which the wire passes. One end of the wire is held fixed by a vipper, so that as the ring rotates the' wire eeds over the rollers'38 and is passed around the bundle. As seen from Figure 1, two of the grooved rollers 38 are laced'with their peripheries' close together, t us forming a guide member enabling the .wire to lea oil rom either of the rollers or both durin winding of the wire. The ring,in each cyc le' of operation, rotates more than one revolution to bring portions of the wire surrounding the bundle into overlapping position. Y

The wire 39 istaken from a coil 'arranged in any suitable location, passes through a tensioning device' 41, thence through a 'slack take-up device which will be hereinafter described, and thence'passes to the rollers 38 on the ring 36 as the ring rotates. The tensioning device 41 comprises a frame 42 hav- 'ing a plurality of spaced grooved rollers 43-44-45 mounted thereon. Arranged intermediate the rollers 43 and 44, and 44 and 45, are grooved rollers 46 and 47 ,which are journalled on a bar 48, the position of which may be adjusted by the set screws 49. The bar is held in adjusted position by the capscrews 51 and the frame 42 is provided with elongated apertures 52 to permit the vertical movement of the stub shafts on which `the rollers 46 and 47 are mounted. The wire enl ters the tensioning device through the guide 53 vand passes successively over and under the rollers 45, 47, 44,-46 and 43. Byvarying the position of the rollers 46 and 47, with respect to the rollers 43, 44 and 45, the vamount of llexure of the wire -as it passes through the tensioning device may be controlled and consequently the tension of the wire may be controlled. A It is manifest that a large force must be exerted to pull the Wire through the tensioning device and this force is a measure of the tension in the wire. The tension is usually maintained constant for any one size of wire but may be adjusted for different sizes of wire or for bundles of different nature.

From the tensioning device 41 the wire A passes the guide roller 54 and thence passes frame and the roller 55 is j ournalled in a slide 57which is guided in the frame and which i is continuously pressed downward by the coiled sprin 58, which is secured at its upper end to'the ead 59 of the slide andwhich is secured at' its lower end to the adjustable bracket 61, secured to the frame. The spring 58 maintains the wire taut on the ring 36 during the operation of the machine., In such operation, the direction of rotation of the ring is reversed, and this reversal tends to' produce slack in lthe wire on the ring, and when this occurs the spring moves the roller 55 downward, taking up the slack and maintainin -the wire taut. A spring 62 serves Vas a s ock absorber to cushion an excessive downward movement of the slide 57 and a similar spring 63, in line with the foot 64 o f the slide, serves the same purpose in the upward movement of the s1ide,.the wire not being drawn through the tension device until the slide is stopped by the lower 'spring 63.

'As has been stated before, the ring 36 is rotatable inone direction to complete a cycle of operation and is then rotatable in thelop'- posite direction to complete another cycle of operation. I shall now describe the means for driving and reversing the direction of V rotation of the ring.

Mounted on the base 65 of the frame is a driving motor66, which is suitably connected, as bymeans of a driving chain 67, with the sprocket wheel 68. Speed reducing gearing is interposed between the sprocket wheel 68 and the master gear 69. Arranged on the shaft 71 of the sprocket wheel 68 is a gear 72 which is connected to the shaft by means of a clutch which will hereinafter be described. 4The gear 72 meshes with a larger gear 73 secured to the shaft 74 journalledin the frame and secured to the shaft 74 is a gear 75 which meshes with the teeth of the master gear 69. The master gear thus rotates in one' direction as `long as the `gear 72 is clutched to the shaft 71.

Journalled in the frame of the machine is a 4shaft 76 to which is secured a hub 77 having guide rails 78 thereon, arranged parallel to the axisof the shaft. Mounted on the guide rails so that it is' movable in the direction4 of the axis of the shaft is a driving gear 79 having a hub 80 which is secured to a sleeve 82 slidable axially on the shaft 76.-

84 and meshing with the gear 84 and oset axially with respect thereto is a gear 85. The gears 84 and 85 are arranged Wlth their pitch circles in lanes adapted to be intersected by the pitcIli circle of the gear 79. The gear 79 is shiftable axially so that it 'will mesh with either the gear 84 or the gear 85. These two latter gears are of the same diameter and, when the gear 79 is in engagement with the gear 85, the gear 82 will rotate in one direction and when the gear 79 is in engagement with the gear 84, the gear 82 will rotate in the opposite direction. Since the gear 82 is in mesh with the gear 81 on the ring, lateral shifting of the gear 79 serves to reverse the direction of rotation of the ring 36. Means are provided for shifting the gear 79 after the ring 36 has been brought to rest at the end of a cycle of operation in either direction. Secured to the shaft 87 of the master gear 69 is a bevelled pinion 88 which is in mesh with a bevelled pinion 89, the axis of which is vertically disposed. Secured to the bevelled pinion 89, as shown in Figure 7, is a cam 91 having a cam groove in which is disposed the roller 92 mounted on the end of the shifting lever 93, which is fulcrumed on the shaft 94 supported in the bracket 95 secured to the frame. At its other end the shifting lever 93 is lprovided with a fork 96 carrying rollers 97 w ich engage in the groove of the collar 83. The cam 91 is shaped to shift the gear 79 into and ont of mesh with the gears 84 and 85 respectively at the proper time. The bevelled pinion 89 is of twice the pitch diameter of the bevelled pinion 88, so that the cam 91 makes one revolution for each two revolutions of the master gear and the gears connecting the master gear with the ring gear 81 are so proportioned that the ring gear makes one cycle of rotation for each revolution of the master gear. The gear 79 is thus held in one shifted position during one revolution of the master gear and is held in the other shifted position during the next revolution of the master gear.

The gear 79 is intermittently driven by the master gear and the shifting mechanism is operated during the time that the gear 79 is out of operative connection with the master gear, so that the shifting of the gear 79 is e'ected without any clashing of teeth and without throwing any reversing strain on the mechanism. Secured to the shaft 76 is a. mutilated gear 98, the pitch circle of which intersects the pitch circle of the master gear 69. As shown in Figure 5, the gear 98 is devoid of teeth over a segment of its periphery and when this segment is contiguous to the master gear 69, operative connection between the two gears is broken. Means are provided for connecting the gear 98 with the gear 69 to cause rotation of the gear 98 at the proper time. The gear 98 is rotated from a position of rest through 360 degrees to a position of rest, and this rotation of the shaft 76 operating through the ear 79 causes the rotation o the ring 36 t rough a complete cycle. The gear 98 lies in the plane of the master gear 69. Secured to the shaft 76, on one side of the gear 98, is an arm 102 carrying a roller 103, which rolls over a cam 104 on the master gear, the cam 104 being arranged on one side of the gear. Secured to the shaft 76 on the other side of the gear 98 is an arm 105 carrying a roller 106 which is in contact with a cam 107 on the other side of the gear 69. The master gear rotates in the direction of the arrow, as indicated in Figure 5. The cam 107 is provided with an outwardly extending cam portion 108 which, when it moves under the roller 106, causes the shaft 76 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. The cam 104 is provided with a depressed portion 109 into which the roller 103 moves as the roller 106 is raised by the cam 108. The depressed portion 109 of the cam 104 carries the roller 103 around with the master gear 69 and brings the teeth of the gear 98 into mesh with the teeth of the master gear. The master gear then directly drives the gear 98 in a counter-clockwise direction for one revolution of the gear 98. The master gear is rovided on the same side as the cam 107 witii a cam 112, having a depressed portion 113, into which the roller 106 moves as the shaft 76 approaches completion of its revolution. The roller 106 moves into the depression 113 as the teeth on the gear 98 move out of mesh with the gear 69 and the contact between the depressed portion of the cam and the roller carry the roller to the position indicated in Figure 5. The roller 103 engages with the cam 114 on the same side of the gear as the cam 104 and the roller 103 moves down the incline of the cam 114 to the concentric portion 104 of the cam, thus bringing the two rollers 103 and 106 to the neutral position indicated in Figure 5. It is apparent that the cooperation of the rollers and the cams initiate thel rotation of the gear 98, bringing it into mesh with the gear 69 and also completes the rotation of the gear 98 after it has moved out of engagement with the gear 69. The shaft 76 is therefore given one revolution for each revolution of the master gear 69. The rotation of the gear 98 is intermittent and occurs during that segment of a revolution of the master gear which occupies the arc between the cams 108 and 114. During the travel of the master gear past the gear 98 from the cam 114 to the cam 108, the shaft 76 remains at rest. The cam 91 is so positioned that the gear 79 is shifted axially to reverse the direction of rotation of the ring 36, during the time that the shaft 7 6 is at rest and conse( uently during the time there is no load on tile teeth of the connecting gears and during the time that the ring is atrest.

Means are also provided for properly centralizing or ositioning the ar 79, so that it may readilybe slipped axial y into and out of enga ement with the gears 84 and 85. .Secure to the shaft 83 is a wheel 116, having a V-shaped notch 117 in its peri hery which is engaged by a wedge-sha ed) member 118 which accurately positions t eshaft 83. The member 118 is constantly urged from the wheel 116 by a spring (not shown) enclosed in the housing 119. The member 118 is moved into enga ement with the V-shaped opening 117 by t e cam 121, secured to the shaft 87 of the master gear. A roller 122 on the end of the member 118 en ges the cam 121 and the cam is positione to move the wedge 118 into the notch 117 after the shaft 76 has been disengaged from the master ar and after the wheel 116 has been stoppe in approximately neutral position. The wed e 118 centralizes the wheel 116, removing a; l; pressure from the teeth of the driving ears and permits the gear 79 to be slippedv axially without interference. The reversing gears 84 and- 85 as shown in' Figure 2, 'are arran d on spaced axes with the gears in overlapping relation, so that'the gear 79 is moved into engagement with the other of'ther'eversing gears before it is moved out of engagement with the gear with which it has been in mesh.

` A clutch member of any suitable construc-A tion -isarranged between the sprocket 68 and the shaft 71, so that the driving motor may be disconnected from the machine, permitting the machine to be stopped without stoppin the motor. The clutch .member is rovide with a grooved collar 124 which is shifted axially of thel shaft 71 by the forked end 125 of the bell crank shiftin lever 126 which is fulcrmed on the post 1 lever 126 is connected by' means of the rod 128, whichis connected at its other end to thelever V129 secured to the shaft 131 which is journalled'in the frame of the machinel and which 'extends across the machine and ro jects to the outside of the frame on both sides Secured to each end of the of the machine. shaft 131 is a double-ended pedal 132 which may be rocked -in either direction to engage or disengage the clutch. Means are also provided for disengaging the clutch for. each rotation of the mastergear, although, `by holding his foot on the pedal 132 the operator may cause the machine4 to operate continuously. Secured to the shaft 131 is a lever 133 having an abutment 134 on its end, which,

when the clutch is engaged, lies in the path ofa roller 135 on the master gear. When, during the rotation of the master gear, the roller 135 is moved into engagement with the abutment 134, the lever 133 is depressed, shifting the clutchlever 126 to cause disengugementof the clutch.

The other end of the 'jaws' 151 and Means are provided for holding the bundle 34 during the time that the wire is being passed around the bundle and being tied so that the bundle will betied while clampe in a given position. Slidably mounted in the frame is a vertically disposed bar 137 which extends upward above the bundle and which is pulled downward by the heavy coiled spring 138 anchored at its lower end to the frame and connected at its upper end to the head 139 on the bar. The .bar 137 is moved upward and its downward .movement is controlled by a cam 141 secured to the shaft 87 on the master gear. Fulcrumed on the shaft 142 is a lever 143 carrying a-roller 144 in engagement with the cam 141. The free end of the lever 143 is connected by the link 145 'arranged on the shaft 87 that the bundle is heldin position duringthe binding and tying operation and when theseo rations are com leted the bundle is rele 'ustabl secured to the vertically movr 13 whiclris preferabl square in cross-section, is a presser foot 14 overlyin the table 32. .The presser .foot is provided with a box 148 surrounding the bar 137 and provided with rollers 1'4'9 engaging op site faces of the bar. Arranged in the x are two clamping jaws 151, having apertures therein through which the .bar extends, the jaws being normally pulled to ether at one endby the spring 152 to bin them to the rod 137. The box 148 and 4consequently the presser foot 147 are thus firmly secured to the ar 137. The weight of the presser foot and box are substantiall counter-balanced by a sprin 153 so that when it is desirable to adjustt e sition of the box on the bar, the spring will relieve the o rator of the weight ofthe presser foot and x. The clamping jaws 151-.ma be moved from clamping engement with the bar .by spreadinuglpart t ose ends of the jaws which are together by the spring 152. This 'is aecomplished by means o f a cam member 155 formed on the end of the rod 156 extending into the box. The rod is provided with a handle 157 and rotation of the handle spreads apart the rmits the box to bemoved relativetothe ar.

The back wall 35 is provided with a slot 161 extending therethrough vertically in the plane of the wire carried by the rin 36, to permit the wire to encircle thehun e. At one side of the slot the back wall is formed with a box 162 in which are arranged the devices for gripping and cutting the wire. The means for twisting the overlapping portions of the wire together is located in the slot and will be hereinafter described. In Figures 18, 19 and 20 I have shown the construction of the mechanism contained within the box 162 for gripping and cutting the wire. In Figure 19 I have shown a side view of the box with the back wall 35 removed. Disposed in the box with their heads facing the slot 161 are two gripper dogs 164 and 165, these dogs being spaced apart vertically and lying on opposite sides vertically of the twistingr device. Each dog has an overllanging head 166 which is bevelled or tapered at its outer end to facilitate the movement of the wire under the head and is rovided with a projection 167 between w ich and the body of the do the wire is positioned. The head 166 o the dog overlies a clamping block 168 and-the wire is clam d between the head and the block. The ggg normally lies in the position indicated in Figures 19 and 20,'with the head contained within the box. Means are rovided for moving the dog to move the head into the slot so that the wire bein passed through the slot is intercepted by t e head and is moved into position under the head. so that it is clam as the head recedes to its normal position. The two clam ing d 164 and 165 are operated at di erent times. Assumin that the ring 36 is rotating in a clockwise irection, the end of the wire 39 is clamped by the lower dog 165. As the ring rotates, the wire passes upward through the slot 161, around the bundle and again u ward into the slot 161 and extends past t e upper clamping dog 164. The dog 164 is projected during the time that the wire is moving through the slot the second time and is retracted after the wire has assumed a vertical position in the slot, at which time the wire will underlie the head of the dog. The retraction o f the dog 164 will then clamp the other end of the wire. The wire is then twisted and cut oi below the gripper 164, another bundle is placed in position and the ring is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to pass the wire around the positioned bundle. In thus reversing its direction of rotation, the wire is bent over while in contact with and against the head of the do 164, thus greatly increasing the grip of the o on the wire. The wire is carried around by t e ring in a counter-clockwise direction and extends downward through the slot 161 around the box and again downward through the slot so that there are overlapping portions thereof in the slot. The lower dog 165 then operates to grip the downwardly extending portion of the wire so that the wire encircling the bundle is gripped on opposite sides of the twisting device. The twisting device is then operated, the wire cut ofi between the dogs and the twisting device and the ring again operated in a clockwise direction to carry the wire around the bundle in such direction. Such reversal of movement of the ring after completion of each tyin operation bends the wire around the gripping dog so that the wire is very firmly held by the dog, permitting a maximum of tension to be placed in the wire.

The movement of the ri er head into and out of the slot is controIle iy cams 171 and 172 secured to the vertically disposed shaft 173. The shaft 173 is rovided on its lower end with a bevel gear 1 0 which meshes with a bevel gear 180 secured to the shaft 160, the operation whereof will be hereinafter set forth.

The shaft 173, to which the cams 171 and 172 are secured, makes one revolution for each two revolutions of the master ear, or for each two cycles of operation of t e ring. Engaging each cam 171-172 is a roller 174 carried by a lever 175 fulcrumed on the shaft 176. The free end of the lever 175 is connected to the gripper dog through heavy cushion springs 17 7-178, the purpose of the s rings being to comrplnsate for different thicknesses of wire. e lever 175 is normally ulled forward, tending to project the head o the gri per do into the ot b the coiled sprin 1 9, and t e position of the ead is controlle b the cam. The cam is'shaped to permit the ead to move outward sli htly to release the small bend of wire held t erein, after the o eration of the cutter, but without permitting the head to enter the slot and the cam is provided with a further depression which permits the head to extend outward intoJr the slot. When the roller 174 is in contact with the high art of the cam, the head is pulled backward) out of the slot, to ti htly grip the wire.

eans are also provided in the head for cutt'n oil' the wire between the grip rs and the twisted tie, to free the tied wire rom the remaining wire from the coil. Pivoted in the box 162, on vertical pivots, is a cutter bar 181 having cutters 182 at its ends, which move outward into the slot at the proper time to cut the wire at the end of the tie and to cooperate in ejectin the tie from the twisting device. Forme integral with the cutter-bar 181 is a gear segment 183 which is adapted to be engaged by the gear segment 184 carried b the cross-member 185 secured to the shaft 1 3. The shaft 173 makes one revolution for each two cycles of operation of the ring and consequently the cutter operating member 185 is provided with two gear segments 184, one of each being operable at the end of a cycle of operation of the ring and wire twisting device. The cutter-bar is normally held in retracted position by the springs 186 and against the stop pin 187', one end of the springs 186 being secured to the boxy 162 at 187" and the other end being secured to the pin 187, thus causing the cutter-bar to return to rest against the pin 187 after being acted upon by the gear segment 184 is moved forward into the slot at the roper time to cut the wire. It is understood that the box 162 lies contiguous to the slot 161 through the box wall 35, that the wire in encircling the box is moved through the slot and that Vthe gri pper-heads and the cutters are moved into the slot to grip and cut the Wires therein. Manifestly, the wire encircling the box is not cut but the wire is cutbetween the twist and the last gripper to function, sov that that portion of the wire that is twisted around the bundle is cut from the remaining wire extending around the ring 36. The cams 171 and 172 for operating the grippers are positioned to operate the grippers at the proper ime during the operation of the machine, as has been set forth hereinabove.

The gripper operating shaft 173 is driven by the bevel gear 17 0which is in mesh -with the bevel gear 180, secured to the shaft 160. Secured to the shaft 160 is a second gear 191 which is in mesh with a gear 192 secured to the shaft 193 which is journalled in the frame. Means are provided for causing the shaft 193 to make one revolution for each revolution of the master gear 69, and the gears 191--192 and 180-160 are so proportioned that the shaft 173 makes one-half revolution for each com lete revolution of the master gear.. The sha t 193 is rotated at such times during the rotation of the master gear that the grippers are projected and retracted at the proper times during the operation of the machine. In the present construction, for reasons which will hereinafter appear, the shaft 193 is given two half-revolutions during a revolution of the master gear, instead of one whole revolution, but these two half-revolutions perform the same function asone whole revolution. Secured to the shaft 193 are two cross-arms 195 and 196, which areI arranged at right angles to each other. Jonrnalled in the end of each cross-arm is a roller, there being two rollers, 201 and 202, on the ends of the cross-` arm 195, and `two rollers, 203 and 204, on the ends of thecross-arm 196. The axes of these rollers are parallel with the axis of the shaft 193 and the rollers are equidistantly spaced in the concentric circle of their axes. The master gear 69 is provided on'its periphery' with two cams, one cam lying on each side of the gear. The rollers 201 and 202 lie in the plane of the cam 205 Iand the rollers 203 and 204 lie in the plane of the cam 206. The two cams are concentric with the axis of the gear 69 over the major portion of their length but are provided at other portions with elevations and depressions into which the rollers associated with the shaft 193 pass. The cam 206 is provided with an elevated portion 207 which is immediately followed-by a, depression 208, and the cam 205 is provided with a depression 212 which is immediately followed by an elevation 213. As the master gear rotates, the leading roller 201 moves into the depression 212 and the following roller 204 is raised by the elevation 207. This causes a along, the master gear isprovided with another pair `of elevations and depressions, which are substantially identical with those which have just cooperated with" the rollers and these elevations and depressions inthe `cam cause the shaft 193 to be given'another half-revolution.

In the second cam section the elevation 207 corresponds to the elevation 207, the depression 208 corresponds to the depression 208, the depression 212' corre- .spends to the depression 212, and the elevation 213 corresponds to the elevation 213. The master gear 69 is rotated in the direction of the arrow indicated in Figure 5, bringf ing the elevations and depressions into operative relation with the rollers, thus causing the shaft 193 to make two half-revolutions during the revolution of the master gear. The second half-revolution of the shaft 193 is effected by the cooperation of the rollers 202 and 203 with the elevations and depressions of the cam and bythe segmental gear section 215 which is secured to the shaft 193 and arranged diametrically opposite the gear section 214.

Similar means are provided for rotating the shaft 217, which drives the wire twisting device or knetter. The shaft 217 is provided with cross arms and rollers in the same manner as the shaft 193 and is also provided with segmental gears of the same arrangement, so that the'shaft 217 is given two half-revolutions during the rotation of the master gear 69. The rollers associated with the shaft 217 cooperate with the cams 205 and 206 on the master gear and are moved by cooperation with the elevations and depressions thereon, to cause the shaft 217 to make two halfwevolutions during the rota-V tion of the master gear. The shaft 217 is so positioned with respect to the positions of the cams on the master gear, that operation ofthe knotter or wire tying device is effected at the proper time. The cam elements 208 and 213- are fornied to cause the initial half-revolution of the shaft 217 to be in excess of 180 degrees. That is, the shaft is caused to rotate in one direction, for instance, V185 degrees and then is rotated backward 5 degrees. This gives the twisting device an over-twist and the back twist relieves the knot of all tension, so that it may readily be removed from the tying or knotting device. .Thevdepressed portion 208 of the cam is provided at its end with a slightly elevated portion 218 which extends outward slightly beyond the radius of the concentric portion of the cam 206. The elevated portion 213 of the cam 205, slopes downward to merge into the concentric portion of the earn and is provided with a slieht depression 219 immediately in advance o the merging of the inclined portion with the concentric portion. One of the rollers associated with the shaft 217 is raised as it passes over the projection 218 and the other roller is depressed as it passes through the de )ression 219, thereby causing the rotation of t e shaft 217 to be slightly in excess of 180 degrees.

Motion is transmitted from the s aft 217 tothe wire twisting device which, in the present instance, comprises a slotted cylindrical member 220. Secured to the shaft 217 is a bevel gear 221, which is in mesh with a bevel gear 222 secured to the vertically disposed shaft 223. The shaft 223 extends upward above the table 32 and secured thereto is a gear 224 which is in mesh with a pinion 225 which is preferably formed integrally with the slotted twisting device 220. The ratio of the gear between the shaft 217 and the twisting device is such that the twistin device is given two and one-half revolutlons for each half-revolution of the shaft 217.

The twisting device is rotatable about a vertical axis which is'disposed in the slot 1,61, the twisting device being rotated adjacent the face of the wall 35. Normally the twisting device is disposed in such position that the slot 226 therein opens into the slot 161 in a direction away from the face of the wall 35. In Figure 12, the slot is shown opening toward the face of the wall, but normally the slot is in the diametrically opposed position. In such position the slot 226 forms a continuation of the slot 161, so that as the wire is passed through into the slot 161, as it is being passed around the bundle, it is introduced into the slot 226 in the twisting device. Two portions of the wire are disposed in the narrow portion of the slot 226 so that as the twisting device is rotated these portions are twisted together to form the tie indicated in Figure 14. The twisting device 220 is provided on each side of the slot 226 with larger cavities 227, within which the wire may twist, the width of the narrow portion of the slot being such that the twisting of the wires therein is prevented. Arranged at each end of the twisting device are fixed jaws 228, as shown in Figure 28, through which the overlapping portions of the wire pass. These jaws are provided with slots of substantially the same width as the narrow portion of the slot in the twisting device and the jaws are held stationary, so that when the twisting device is rotated, the

twisting of the wire is confined to the space lying between the jaws 228 and the narrow portion of the slot 226, thus causing the formation of the tie shown in Figure 14. Tying pinions, per se, of this general character, are well known and require no further description herein.

The tying device 220 is given substantially two and a half revolutions to forni the tie, thus bringing the slot therein into the position indicated in Figure 12, thereby perlnitting the tie to be readily removed from the slot. After the tie has been removed, the twisting device is given another two and a half revolutions and returned to its normal position, with the slot 226 opening into the slot 161 in a direction away from the bundle. In its twisting rotation, the twisting device is rotated in excess of two and a half revolutions and then is rotated backward for the amount of the excess, to relieve the pressure of the tie in the twisting device, due to the tension of the wire. By overtwisting the wire and then moving the twisting device backward, a position of equilibrium is obtained in which there is no torsional strain in the wire tending to bind the knot or tie in the slot of the twisting device.

Arranged in the wall 35, adjacent the slot 161, is a pushed foot 231 as shown in Fig. 9 which is adapted to be moved forward to push the bundle away from the back wall and consequently permit the cutters, upon continued movement after severing the wire, to remove the tie from the tying device. The plate 231 is secured to the rods 232 slidable in bearings in the wall and the rods 232 are moved to push the plate against the bundle, by the lever 233 which is connected to the cross-head 234 secured to the rods. The lever 233 is loosely fulcrumed on the shaft 160 and is operated by the cam 235. The cam 235 is` fixed to agear 238 which is rotatably mounted on a fixed shaft 236. The gear 238 meshes with gear 237 which is fixed on shaft 160, and is rotated once for each revolution of the master gear.

In operation, the machine comes to rest after one of its cycles of operation, in the position indicated in Figure 1, with the end of the wire extending inward from the ring being gripped by the upper gripper 164. The ring is then rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, feeding the wire around the box in a counter-clockwise direction. The twisting device is in its normal position in the slot 161. As the ring 36 starts to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, the end of the wire is bent around and against the gripper 164 and the wire is passed into the slot 161 and into the slot 226 of the twister. The wire is then carried around the bundle, While being held under tension, and is brought around so that a second strand of the wire passes into the slot 161 and into the slot 226. This portion of the wire is then gripped by the lower gripper 165 and the twisting means is then operated to form the knot. At the end of this operation, the slot 226 faces the bundle 34 and the cutters are operated to sever the wire tied around the bundle from the remaining wire extending around the ring 36 as well as the small waste piece of wire ju'st released by the gripper 164. The cutters eject the knot from the tying device as well as the small Waste piece of wirewbicb falls between the wall and the package 34 which was simultaneously pushed away by the pusher foot 231. The tying device is then given another two and a half revolutions to bring it back to normal position. `Another bundle is then placed and the machine operated another time, this time the ring rotating in a clockwise direction to.pass the tensioned wire around the bundle in such direc- .tion. However, should it be desired to place ing. It is thus seen'that'thc ring, of the pre. ferredv machine, rotatesjn opposite direc- -tions for successive binding or encircling operations', regardless of whetherithe bindings are placed about the same object or ,about different obj'ects. During the time that the wire is being assed around the bundle, the bundle is heldl in fixed position' by the clamp 147. The tension'on the wire causes tight wrapping of the wire around the bundle and,'due to the operation of the tying device'which substantially eliminates the, ro-y duction of slack in the wire, the nishe tie tightly encircles the bundle. In -this connerf tion, it is to be observed that the two clo'sely positioned rollers 38 on the ring, which form a lead-o' guide member for the wire, are interposed Ybetween the grippers and the wire tensioning source. The member contacts the wire to flex it away' from the buik dle and in' the plane of the winding during its entire orbital movement about the bundle.

This, coupled with the tension on the wiref will cause convex flexing thereof and there'- by result in the wire tightly hugging the sides of vthe bundle.`

By the expression wire is meant an suitable binding strip, whether rec or round, or otherwise in cross section.

I claim: i V 1. In a bundle tying machine, means for supporting a-bundle in a fixed location, means including an annular member for passing a tensioned wire around the located bundle so that the wire tightlyencircles the bundle, with one portion of the wire overlapping another portion of the wire in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of a aide of the one binding tied by the4 bundle, and means for twisting together the overlapping portions of the wire.

2. In a undle tying machine, means for supporting a bundle ina fixed location means for assing a wire aroundthe lixedly located bun le with one portion of,the wire overlaping another portion of the wire, said overapping portions bein parallel and being dis- -posed in a vertical p ane parallel to a side of the bundle at the sideof the 'bundle and means for twisting together the overlapping portions of the wire.

3. In a bundle tying machine, bundle supporting means, a rotatably mounted ring s urrounding said supporting means, means for rotating the ring in opposite directions and means carried b the rin for 'passing a wire around the bun le for ei er direction of rotation of the ring.

4. In a bundle tying porting means, a rotatably mounted ring surrounding said supporting means, means for rotating the ring alternately in opposite di-v rections means carried by the ring for assing a wire around the bundle for either direction of rotationof the ring. f 5. In a bundle machine, bundle supporting means, a rotatably mounted ring surrounding said supgiortingmeana'means carried by the ringo assing a wire around the bundle, means or` rotating the ring through a .cycle in one direction, means for stopping the rotation of the ring at the end of e cycle and means for simultaneously reversing the driving connections of the ring s o that in the next cycle of operation the ring will be rotated in the opposite'direction.

6. In a bundle tying machine, bundle supmeans, a rotatably mounted ring surrounding said supior'ting means, means carring o the ,-bnndle, a wire t means constrained withrespect to support and through which the wire isl passed twice in one direction by the rotation ofthe ring and thereby overlapped4 and means for rotating said tyingmeans to twist the overlapping portions o the wireto er.

7. In' a undle 'ng machine, a frame adapted to supportthe bundle to be tied, a ring rotatably mounted in said frame and adapted to surround the bundle, a wire twisting means arranged on said frame contiguous to one side of the bundle, means on the ring for passing a wire around the bundle and twice in the saine direction through the twisting means and means for rotating the twisting means to twist the two portions of the wire therein together.

8. In a bundle tying machine, a frame adapted to hold the bundle to be tied, a slotted wall on said frame against which the bundle is placed, a slotted wire twisting device arranged in said slot alongside of said bundle with the slot in the device parallel to the conmachine, bundle sup-A r passing a winearound' a slotted wire twist' sai tiguous side of the bundle,rmeans'fo'r assing a wire around the bundle and over apping rtions thereof in the slot of the .twisting evice and means for rotating the twisting device to tie the wire around the bundle. 9. In a bundle t machine, a frame ada tedto hold the bun e tobetied,aslotted wall) on said frame against which the bundle .device in slot alon side of the bun e, the slot in said deviceeing parallel to the contiguous side of the bundle," a rotatable ring surrounding-said wall, means on the ring adapted to pass a wire around the bundle and overlap ends of the wire in the slot of the twisting device and means for rotating the twislng device to twist the overlapping ends er. 10. In a bundl t machine a frame .esposto hold um bnn @ab be cieli. s signed wire device a contiguous to the sido of e held bun e,'the.slot in the twisting device arallel to the contiguous side-of the bun e whereby the twisted wire will lie parallel to the contiguous side,

`means for passing a wire around the bundle and twice in the same direction through said A alot, whereby` the portions of the wire disin the slot are overlap and means or rotating the twisting device 'tc-twistthe overla pingportions of the wire together."

11. a undle tyin machine, a support for the bundle, a s1 -wire twisting evice arranged adjacent said support, the slot in 'said evice being arallel to the contiguous side of the bun e .and normally opening away from said bundle, means for p a.

wire in to the slot, around the bundle and again into the slot, in the same direction to overlap the rtions of the wire in the slot, an means for rotating the device a whole and a fractional number of times to twist the overlapping together and to position the device with the slot opening towardthe contiguous side of the bundle. Y

12. In a bundle tying machine, a slotted device, means for inserting into said device portions of the wire encircling the bundle so that said portions overlap, the said device' being normall positioned with the slot opening a'way om the bundle, means for rotating the device a whole and a fractional number of times to form a twist of the overlap ing portions andhalt the-'device with the s ot opening toward the bundle and means for ejecting the twist from the slot.

' 13. Ina bundle tying machine, means for supporting the bundle, a slotted wire twisting device arran adjacent said support with the slot opening away from the bundle, means for passing a tensioned wire around the bundle and twice thru said slot in the same direction to overlap the portions of the portions of the wire wire disposed in the slot, means for rotating the twisting device a whole and a fractional number of turns to form a twist of the overlapping portions of the wire and halt the device with the slotopenng toward the bundle, and means for ejecting the twist from the slot.

14. In a bundle tying machine, means for supporting the bundle, a slotted wire twisting device arranged adjacent the support with the slot opening away from the bundle, means adjacent one end of the slot for gripping the end of a wire, means for passing the wire into the slot, around the bundle and again into the slot whereby portions of the wire are overlapped in the slot, means adjacent the other end of the slot for gripping the encircling wire,.means for rotating the twisting device a whole and a fractional number of times to. form a twist of the overlapping portions rof the-wire and halt the twisting device with the slot opening toward the bundle and means for cutting thelwire between the twist andthe ippmg means.

15. In a bundle tying mac ine, means for supporting the bundle, a slotted wire twisting device arran d adjacent the support with the slot opening awa from the bundle, means adjacent one end o the'slot for gripping the end of the wire, nieans for assin the wire into the slot, around the bun le an again into the slot so that portions of the wire overla', means adjacent the other end ofthe slot or gripping the encircling wire, means forrotating the twisting device a whole and a fractional number of times to 'form a twist of the overlapping ortions of .device'arranged adjacent a side of the supported bundle with the slot opening away from the side of the bundle, means for passing a wire around the bundle and twice through the slot in one direction to overlap portions of the wire disposed in theA slot, means for rotating the device in one direction to twist the overlapping portions together and in the opposite 'rection to relieve the tension in the twist the total rotation of the device being such that the device is brought to rest with the slot opening toward the side of the bundle.

17. .In a bundle t 'ng machine, means for supporting the bun le to be tied, a rotatably mounted rin surrounding said support, means carrie by the ring for passing a wire around the bundle, drivin means for alternatcly rotating the ring in op osite directions whereby the wire is passe in opposite directions for successive rotations of the ring, 

